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Waunakee expands pathways work with EOS, surveys students on aspirations and barriers
Summary
District staff reported more than 1,100 high‑school survey responses and described a partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools to align student aspirations with coursework; staff flagged limited state data on workforce outcomes and gaps for economically disadvantaged and English‑learner students.
Tim Shao, a district staff member, explained the Waunakee Community School District’s new partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) and initial results from the district’s student pathways survey. Shao said over 1,100 high‑school students (out of about 1,360 enrolled) had completed the survey in the first week and that more than 100 staff members also responded.
Shao said the EOS partnership helps match students’ stated aspirations with high‑school coursework to reduce gatekeeping barriers to advanced courses. “There’s an aspiration gap,” he said, describing how some students list high aspirations but do not enroll in corresponding coursework. The district plans to create student ‘insight cards’ showing how current course selections align with career or postsecondary goals and to use those cards in one‑to‑one counseling for sophomores.
Board members raised concerns about youth apprenticeship tracking and whether youth apprenticeship participation actually leads to registered apprenticeships or other workforce outcomes. Shao said the district’s visibility into post‑graduation work destinations is limited and suggested state agencies could help coordinate better data sharing between DPI and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). He also flagged that economically disadvantaged students and English learners participate in AP/dual enrollment/CTE at rates at or below statewide averages, unlike most district subgroups.
Shao said next steps include increasing survey response rates, using insight cards in counseling, and reporting more detailed work‑based learning follow‑up to the board. No formal board action or vote on the partnership or program changes occurred at the meeting.
